WOMAN in NEW YORK attacked by RABID GRAY FOX ~ CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE found in three of PENNSYLVANIA’s wild DEER for the first time ~ UTAH finds EQUINE HERPES VIRUS in fairground HORSES ~ FOLLOW-UP REPORT: Seven HORSES in FLORIDA now confirmed with EQUINE HERPES VIRUS ~ RABIES report from VIRGINIA.

New York 03/01/13 Albany County: Health officials have issued a Rabies Alert in the Jefferson Avenue and Lansing Park area of Cohoes after it was reported that a woman was bitten by a gray fox on Friday morning. That morning a man in the same area reported being chased into his house by an aggressive fox. Later that day police shot a fox in the same vicinity and it tested positive for the virus. The police chief said both the animal involved in the biting incident and the one shot had a strong skunk odor so police believe they are one and the same animal, but they cannot be absolutely certain so the alert remains in force. – See http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Rabies-feared-in-Cohoes-fox-bite-4320475.php

Chronic Wasting Disease:

Pennsylvania 03/01/13 state.pa.us: News Release – The Pennsylvania Game Commission today confirmed three hunter-killed deer taken in the 2012 general firearms deer season have tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Two were from Blair County; the other was from Bedford County. “These are the first positive cases of CWD in free-ranging deer in Pennsylvania,” confirmed Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe. “The disease was first documented in early October, 2012, by the state Department of Agriculture in a captive deer on an Adams County deer farm.” The three hunter-killed deer tissue samples were collected by Game Commission personnel during annual deer aging field checks during the general firearms season for deer. The samples were tested and identified as suspect positive by the Department of Agriculture as part of an ongoing annual statewide CWD surveillance program. The tissue samples were confirmed to be positive for CWD by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, as part of an established verification process. “The three CWD-positives were part of 2,945 deer sampled for the disease statewide,” explained Roe. “To date, we have received test results from 1,500 samples, including these three positive samples. Results from the remaining samples should be available in the next few weeks.”- For complete release see http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=12775&PageID=648010&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/marketingsites/game_commission/content/resources/newsreleases/newsrelease/articles/release__019_13.html

Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1):

Utah 02/27/13 sltrib.com: The Utah state veterinarian has issued several quarantines in Cache County following confirmation of two cases of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) and three other suspected cases. The outbreak is confined to Cache County, but horse owners throughout Utah are advised to take extra precautions when taking their animals to shows or public arenas. The Cache County Fairgrounds has closed its riding arena until further notice as it is believed that most of the horses had been at the facility within the past week. Two of the five horses have been euthanized because of their condition. The three other animals are under observation and quarantine. The virus is not transmissible to people. – For complete report see http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/55914440-79/horses-cache-county-nose.html.csp

Virginia 03/01/13 Henrico County: A raccoon found in the 1600 block of Forest Glen Road in northern Henrico has tested positive for rabies. Two vaccinated dogs that were in contact with the raccoon have been quarantined. – See http://wtvr.com/2013/03/01/henrico-rabies-alert-2/

Jerry Genesio

Author of "UNSEEN HAZARDS That Threaten Hunters, Campers, and Hikers: What you should know about pathogens commonly found in wildlife."

This is where wildlife and healthcare professionals, hunters, campers, hikers, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts will find interesting information about natural unseen hazards that place them at risk. As my book focused exclusively on Rabies, Tetanus (Lockjaw), Tularemia (Rabbit Fever), Brucellosis (Undulant Fever), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Borrelia (Lyme Disease), posts regarding these six diseases will be limited to more recent developments and items of interest that were not included or were not available when the book was published in June of 2009. Topics will also include Chronic Wasting Disease, West Nile Virus, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, and other diseases of particular interest to those who work and play in the great American outdoors.

Don’t Be Afraid – Be Aware!

The Natural Unseen Hazards blog is available to all free of charge and is maintained as a public service.

If you have questions related to pathogens commonly found in wildlife, e.g. the disease caused by a specific pathogen, hosts, vectors, symptoms, treatment, territorial range, etc., please comment here or e-mail to jerrygenesio@gmail.com and I will attempt to provide answers.

"Chance favors the prepared mind."
Louis Pasteur

Unless otherwise noted, images have been provided by the CDC Public Health Image Library, Wikimedia Commons, the National Park Service or other government agencies, Bing.com, and/or Google.com.

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."
Marie Curie

"It's better to look ahead and prepare, than to look back and regret."
Jackie Joyner Kersee